Tech

Apple and Google hold an “effective duopoly” with their mobile platforms and may be forced to open them up to more competition, a UK watchdog has said.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced proposals to give the US tech giants “strategic market status” for their mobile platforms, which could enforce changes that will benefit consumers, businesses and app developers.

An earlier market study by the CMA published in 2021 found that Apple and Google dominated mobile ecosystems across operating systems, app stores and web browsers.

It said this meant the two companies were in a position to effectively set the rules on how mobile browsers worked on their devices.

Around 90% to 100% of UK mobile devices run on Apple or Google’s mobile platforms, according to the CMA.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the regulator, said: “Apple and Google’s mobile platforms are both critical to the UK economy – playing an important role in all our lives, from banking and shopping to entertainment and education.